Carpet-stretcher.



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TUNTTED STATES THOMAS Ii. BRADBURY, OF ENDERBY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

Application filed February 5, 1908.

To (z/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS K. BRADBURY, a subj ect of the King of England, residing at Enderby, in the Province of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oarpet-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to household appliances, and more particularly to carpet stretchers, and has for its object to provide an article of the kind which will be of simple structure and light material, yet efficient and (,lurable. l

Another obiect is to provide such an article that will be simple to operate, without great physical exertion, thusA being operable by persons not possessing great physical strength.

Another obiect is to provide such an article that will be easy to manufacture from stock material and at a low cost.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described maynbe made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side view of the stretcher in operative position upon a carpet, Fie. 2 is a similar view in disengaged position., Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the stretcher in engaged position, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the gripping members longitudinally thereof, Fig. 5`is a similar view on the line awa of Fig. 3, showing the carpet engaging pins and releasing means, Fig. 6 is a top view of one of the gripping members in operative position, Fig. 7 is a bottom view of one of the gripping members in perspective.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a pair of gripping members 10 of similar construction, held inengaged position by operating members 11, upon a carpet 12, beneath which there is a floor13.

The gripping members 10 each comprises a base plate 14, having a row of carpet engaging pins arranged laterally thereof near one edge and so disposed as to take secure hold of a carpet when presented thereagainst. Near the opposite edges of the plates' 14 there are rectangular slots. 16 having flanges 17 extending across each end thereof and pro- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Serial No. 414,420.

pivot pins 19 of tug members 20 pivotally disposed in the slots 16 and now to be described. Each tug member 2() is formed of a flat piece of metal having floor engaging spurs 21 extending laterally therefrom at one end and having the opposite end portion 22 tion 2 3 receiving` therein the end 24 of an operating member to be subsequently described. Pivot pins 26 extend laterally from each side of the tug members directly above the spurs 21 and are engaged revolubly in the perforations 1S of the base plate 14, as above described. The spurs 21 are presented downwardly from the base plates 14 andthe opposite portions of the tug members extend above the base plate through the slot 16 and form operating arms 22 as shown, a downward pressure on which will cause the spurs to engage against the floor 13, and by the leverage thus exerted move the gripping members backwardly. A releasing member 31 is carried by each of the base plates, comprising a rectangular leaf of metal pivoted by one edge to the under side of the base plate parallel with the row of carpet engaging pins 15 with its free edge disposed adjacent thereto, and having an arm 32 extending outwardly of the side of the base plate for oscillating the release member vertically beside the pins to free them from engagement in a carpet when desired.

The operating members comprise rods having shoulders 27 and end portions 28 projecting therebeyond, engaged detachably in the erforations 23 of the tug members, the shorilders 27 engaging against the sides of the perforations to force the operating arms 22 backward and downward when the operating members are forced thereagainst. The

and engaged revolubly in a right-and.left threaded turn buckle 30, which is arranged to be operated to force the rods apart and against the arm 22.

In operation, after the carpet has been spread upon the floor in the desired position, Jthe gripping members 1() are placed thereupon on opposite sides of the spot where it is desired to begin 'fastening the carpet, the operating arms 22 being raised and the spurs 21 pointing away from the opposite member 10. The engaging pins 15 are then pressed downwardly into the carpet and the operatvided with perforations 1S receiving therein and extending laterally to provide a means bent oppositely and provided with a perforai opposite ends 29 of the rods 25 are threaded ing arms 22 pressed backwardly until the spurs 21 begin to engage with the floor 13. The foot oi the operator should then be applied to the top ot the gripping member with a pressure sufficient to malte the hold of the spurs upon the floor secure. The projecting end portions of the rods 25 may then be presented in the pertorations 23 of the operating arms 22 and the turnbuckles operated to force the rods4 apart, the tug members thus being operated upon their pivots to force the gripping members apart by the leverage -ot the spurs 21 upon the floor 13, and when the carpet is at the desired tension, it may be tacked down in the usual manner. After the iirst portion oi the carpet has been secured to the floor, a new area of carpet may be stretched by moving one of the gripping members backwardly to a new position, and after being engaged with the carpet as at lirst, the foot of the operator may then be applied on top of the grip member and the operating arm 22 oscillated successively until suflicient tension is produced in the carpet between this grip member and the previously tacked portion of the carpet. The operation of the arms 22 causes a backward tugging of the grip member by reason of the engagement of the spurs 21 with the Hoor, and their leverage, the pressure of the operators toot on top of the grip member preventing yielding movement of the grip member under the stress of the carpet. One end of one of the operating members 25 may then be engaged in the perforations 23 of the operating arm 22 and the disengaged gripping member similarly engaged with the opposite end of the other operating member.25 and brought into p engagement with the carpet, to hold the iirst gripping member in engaged position.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of the class described comprising carpet engaging members, floor engaging members pivoted in the carpet engaging members and having operating arms extending above their pivotal point, and means for detlecting the operating arms to operate the floor engaging members and force the carpet engaging members in opposite directions.

2. An article of the class described, comprising carpet gripping members, means for disengaging the gripping members from a carpet, floor engaging members pivoted on the gripping members, said engaging members having operating arms extending above their pivotal points, operating members engaged between the extremities of the arms, and means for forcing the operating members apart to deflect the arms and force the grip- )infT members a iart.

3. An article of the class described comprising carpet gripping members, having a spaced series of carpet engaging pins on. their lower faces, a pivot member carried by said carpet engaging members and arranged for oscillation for sliding movement longitudinally of said pins to disengage carpet therefrom, andmeans for `forcing said carpet engaging members oppositely away 'from each other to stretch a carpet when engaged therewith.

4. An article or' the class described comprising oppositely disposed carpet engaging members, Hoor engaging members pivoted thereon, said last named members comprising spaced downwardly projecting spurs having upwardly extending operating arms connected therewith arranged for oscillation to engage said spurs against a [loor to move said carpet gripping members away from each other, and coengaging means for oscillating said operating arms by coengagement.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature, in presence oftwo witnesses.

THOMAS K. BRADB'URY.

Wiitnesses:

GEORGE BELL, FLORENCE A. BELL. 

